The church today has more chances than perhaps ever before for sharing our testimonies to a hungry and lost world. With the incredible rise of New Media and Social Networks like YouTube and Facebook, we have the potential of reaching millions with the stories of God’s work in our lives. With just a computer, a video camera and Internet access we can do powerful things for the glory of God.
For generations, the church has looked to use the available tools to reach out with the good news of God’s love and plan of salvation. One of the most common ways is through the use of testimonies. A number of ministries have begun producing video testimonies in hopes of leveraging the New Media for evangelistic ends. Here is one example of a video testimony I shot with Micah Bournes:
While some ministries and churches have large budgets for producing videos like this, with just a little creativity, basic knowledge and inexpensive materials, you can easily produce professional looking videos.
1. LIGHTING:
While there are expensive light kits available through photography supply companies, you can use much cheaper lights to accomplish similar results. Here is a frame of Micah’s testimony taken without proper light:
It’s not a bad shot, but a little light will improve it a lot. Here’s a photograph of the lights used:
The KEY LIGHT (or the primary light in front of the subject) is a $15 paper lantern from IKEA which is hung from a mic stand just a few feet away from Micah. The BACK LIGHT is a $5 clip-on shop light from Home Depot with a $1 piece of diffusion material from the local photo shop. It’s not a lot to look at, but it sure makes the interview look better.
2. Audio
Many amateur video makers will try to shot the material with just the microphone on the camera; sounding something like this (notice the bad lighting as well):
3. Framing
You’ll also notice on the previous video how Micah (the subject) is looking too far off the screen. Pay attention to proper framing–bring the camera around and face him more head-on. Keep the subject to the left or right of the frame, not directly in the center (learn more about the “Rule of Thirds” and other good framing techniques).
Here’s what happens to our example when we correct both the audio and framing problems:
Tips:
1. Keep length of video to 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Honor Copyright Laws and Guidelines.
3. Include links in your video or on your website to other Gospel resources (like NEED HIM or TWO WAYS TO LIVE).
4. Remember that it’s God’s stories that are on display–not the vessel.
If you’d like further assistance producing Video Testimonies for your church, I am available in both a consulting and production role. Click here for my contact information.
Other Samples:
If you’d like to see a few more examples of Video Testimonies currently on the web, here are a few:
“The Red Chair Series” by Cold Water Media:
“Born Again Delivered Disciples“:
